Tiergarten Nürnberg

Little Pigs?

The name Guinea Pig was given to the animals because they squeaked like pigs and were brought from South America across the sea to Europe. Despite their name, the small rodents are not actually related to pigs.

Precocial

Guinea pigs are precocial, meaning they are born fully developed and able to walk a few hours after birth. As with all rodents, their teeth are constantly growing, which is why they always need something hard to nibble on. If their claws are too long, they must be cut, otherwise they can’t walk.